For weeks, a string of major storms have hit California, causing extreme flooding. While it might seem as if rain should have a silver lining for a state stuck in a historic drought, the reality is far more complicated.

Today, how California’s water management in the past has made today’s flooding worse and why it represents a missed opportunity for the future of the state’s water crisis.

Guest: Christopher Flavelle, a climate reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• In the wake of recent storms, California is facing questions about whether its approach to handling crippling storms is suited to 21st-century climate threats.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.